The president of the national fraternity is known as the Grand Polemarch, who assigns a Province Polemarch for each of the twelve provinces (districts/regions) of the nation. The fraternity has many notable membersrecognized as leaders in the arts, athletics, business, civil rights, education, government, and science sectors at the local, national and international level.[2] The Kappa Alpha Psi Journal is the official magazine of the fraternity since 1914.[3] The Journal is published four times a year in February, April, October and December. Frank M. Summers was the magazine’s first editor and later on became the Fourteenth Grand Polemarch.[3] The former editor of the magazine was Jonathan Hicks.[4] The current editor of the magazine is Earl T. Tildon.

The founders endeavored to establish the fraternity with a strong foundation before embarking on plans of expansion. By the end of the first year, the ritual was completed, and a design for the coat of arms and motto had begun.[5] Frederick Mitchell name is on the application for the Incorporation of the Fraternity but withdrew from school and thus never became a member of the Fraternity.[6]

The fraternity was founded as Kappa Alpha Nu on the night of January 5, 1911 by ten African-American college students.[7]The decision upon the name Kappa Alpha Nu may have been to honor the Alpha Kappa Nu club which began in 1903 on the Indiana University campus, but there were too few registrants to assure continuing organization.[3] The organization known today as Kappa Alpha Psi was nationally incorporated under the name of Kappa Alpha Nu on May 15, 1911 (the 1st nationally incorporated college fraternity by African Americans). The name of the organization was changed to its current name in 1915, shortly after its creation.

Kappa Alpha Psi initiate Frank Summers was one of eighteen members of the Indiana University Track team awarded the letter “I” in 1915.

The motto of the Fraternity is, Achievement in every field of human endeavor. During this time there were very few African-American students at the majority white campus at Bloomington, Indiana and they were a small minority due to the era of the Jim Crow laws. Many African-American students rarely saw each other on campus and were discouraged or prohibited from attending student functions and extracurricular activities by white college administrators and fellow students. African-American students were denied membership on athletic teams with the exception of track and field. The racial prejudice and discrimination encountered by the founders strengthened their bond of friendship and growing interest in starting a social group.[8]

Some believe the Greek letters Kappa Alpha Nu were chosen as a tribute to Alpha Kappa Nu,[9] but the name became anethnic slur among racist factions. Founder Elder Watson Diggs, while observing a young initiate compete in a track meet, overheard fans referring to the member as a “kappa alpha nig”, and a campaign to rename the fraternity ensued.[10] The resolution to rename the group was adopted in December 1914, and the fraternity states, “the name acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and KAPPA ALPHA PSI thereby became a Greek letter Fraternity in every sense of the designation.” Kappa Alpha Psi has been the official name since April 15, 1915.[5]

In 1947, at the Los AngelesConclave, the National Silhouettes of Kappa Alpha Psi were established as an auxiliary group, which membership comprises wives or widows of fraternity members. In 1980, the Silhouettes were officially recognized and granted a seat on the Board of Directors of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation. Silhouettes provide support and assistance for the activities of Kappa Alpha Psi at the Grand Chapter, Province and Local levels.[11]

In the 1950s, as black Greek-letter organizations began the tradition of step shows, the fraternity began using the “Kappa Kane” in what it termed “cane stepping”. The kappa canes were longer in the 1950s than in later decades. In the early 1960s, the cane was decorated with the fraternity colors. In the 1970s the cane was shortened so brothers could “twirl” and tap the cane in the choreography with high dexterity. The process of covering the cane in the fraternal colors is considered as ‘wrapping’ and is done very specifically.[citation needed]

In the 1960s the national organization did not condone the use of canes or Kappa Alpha Psi’s participation in step shows contending that “the hours spent in step practices by chapters each week would be better devoted to academic or civic achievement.”[3] Senior Grand Vice Polemarch Ullysses McBride complained about the vulgar language and obscene gestures sometimes engaged in by cane-stepping participants during these stepshows.[3] In 1985, during the fraternity’s 66th national meeting, cane stepping was finally recognized as an important staple of Kappa Alpha Psi.[3]

Guide Right is a program for the educational and occupational guidance of youth, primarily inspirational and informational in character. Its reach extends to high schools and colleges alike. In the latter, giving due attention to the needs of undergraduate Brothers.

Conceived in 1922 by Leon Wop Stewart, and suggested at the twelfth Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Guide Right became the Fraternity’s National Service Program. Jesse Jerome Peters, later to become the eighth Grand Polemarch, was chairman of the committee, during the administration of W. Ellis Stewart as Grand Polemarch.

Guide Right is administrated by a National Director and a Guide Right Commission. The Guide Right Commission consists of the Director and twelve Province Guide Right Coordinators, one from each Province, appointed by their respective Province Polemarchs. The Director is uniquely qualified to perform the duties of this office and is appointed by the Grand Polemarch. He prepares such directives as are necessary for the successful and efficient observance of this National movement. He also edits and prepares the Manual for the universal use of Undergraduate and Alumni.[12]

The five national Guide Right initiatives [13] are Kappa League, Jr. Kappa League, A-MAN Program,[14] St. Jude Research Hospital, and the premier program, “Kappa Kamp,” which enables inner city boys to attend camp at the Piney Woods Country Life School in Piney Woods, Mississippi.[15] In addition to the above-mentioned national initiatives, chapters within the Fraternity sponsor a wide variety of Guide Right programs in their communities that support their local youth.

The Kappa League was founded Thursday, February 12, 1970 by the Los Angeles (CA) Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi; under the direction of Leon W Steward. Steward brought the idea to Los Angeles from Dayton, Ohio, where he had worked closely with Jay Crosby to expand the guide right activities of Dayton (OH) Alumni chapter. The Kappa League is a series of activities designed to help young high school male students develop their leadership talents. The activities provide both challenging and rewarding experiences to enhance their lives. The goal of the League is to help the students achieve worthy goals for themselves and to make meaningful contributions to their communities. The League includes a series of workshops to achieve its goals.[16]

The Student of the Year Competition is a contest that encompasses six areas deemed critical to a successful life – scholarship, talent, community involvement, poise and appearance, career preparation, and model chapter operation. Each Province sponsors a pageant during its Council. In the year of a Grand Chapter Meeting, the Province winners compete at the Grand Chapter Meeting. The first Student of the Year Pageant was held on May 20, 1972 at Drexel University, under the direction of Mel Davis. The first Pageant at the Grand Chapter Meeting occurred at the 58th Grand Chapter Meeting.[16]

The “Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation,” established in 1981, is the philanthropic arm of the fraternity and assists both alumni and undergraduate chapters in support of scholarships, after-school programs, and national projects such as Habitat for Humanity.[12]

The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation was conceived by Dr. Oliver S. Gumbs, the 23rd Grand Polemarch. His dream began to take shape at a May 1982 with the past Grand Polemarchs and the national officers in Washington, D.C. He proposed forming a separate 501(c)(3) charitable foundation to accept contributions to finance the headquarter’s renovation project. Fraternity members contributing to the new foundation could deduct their donations as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. The Foundation would also accept contributions from individuals, organizations and businesses.[16]

The fraternity maintains dual membership in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).

The NPHC is composed of nine international black Greek-letter sororities and fraternities and promotes interaction through forums, meetings, and other mediums for the exchange of information, and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions.[17]

The NIC serves to advocate the needs of its member fraternities through enrichment of the fraternity experience, advancement and growth of the fraternity community, and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions.[18]

Kappa Alpha Psi offers undergraduate and graduate membership to potential aspirants, and its constitution has never contained any clause which either excluded or suggested the exclusion of a man from membership because of color, creed, or national origin.[19] Undergraduate Chapters are located on more than 406 College and University campuses and Alumni Chapters are arrayed in some 367 cities in the United States and 9 foreign countries.[20]

“

Membership is a solemn commitment. To this Fraternity, the maker of the commitment becomes synonymous with the commitment itself. Membership in Kappa Alpha Psi is a lifelong dedication to the ideas and lofty purposes of Kappa Alpha Psi, which considers for membership only those aspirants whose personal, social and academic qualifications are acceptable to both the College and Fraternity.[21]

”

To be considered for membership, a candidate must have at least a 2.5 gpa on a 4.0 scale. For consideration into Kappa Alpha Psi on the alumni level, one must possess at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of such a degree from an accredited college or university.[22] Kappa Alpha Psi also prides itself in that it has never bestowed honorary membership.[23]

Kappa Alpha Psi has never condoned hazing, but is aware that incidents seem to always occur.[25][26] In 1990, Kappa Alpha Psi along with fellow NPHC organizations issued a joint statement announcing the elimination of pledging. The fraternity revised its membership development and intake process; instituted strong policies against hazing and has taken steps to reinforce and strengthen its stance against prohibited conduct.[27] The fraternity backed its stance by releasing Executive Order One in 1988, Executive Order Two in 1993, and Executive Order Three in 1994.[28] However, in 1994, Michael Davis, a Southeast Missouri State University student, was beaten to death participating in a pledging ritual by members of Kappa Alpha Psi. His family won a $1.4 million lawsuit against the fraternity and several Kappas served time in prison.[29] In 2009, the fraternity was shut down at the University of Central Florida after a mother of a pledge contacted the university’s president with legitimate complaints about her son’s safety as a result of a fellow pledge being beaten so brutally that he nearly died.[30][31]Also in 2009, Louisiana State University (LSU) placed a 11-year ban on the fraternity for repeated hazing violations and severe abuse. LSU will not consider reinstatement of the fraternity until at least 2020.[32] In 2010, a pre-med student at Wayne State University suffered from kidney failure and was hospitalized for 12 days due to weeks of physical abuse by men of the fraternity.[33] Also in 2010, the fraternity was permanently banned from the campus of Georgia State University for being a repeat offender and beating a student pledging so badly that he coughed up blood.[34] In 2011, the fraternity registration was cancelled at the University of Texas at San Antonio for striking pledges and providing misleading information to university officials during the hazing investigation. In March 2012, the University of Florida chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was suspended because of 13 misdemeanor sworn complaints involving striking and harassing pledges.[35] In April 2012, the fraternity at Arkansas Tech University was permanently banned from campus for beating a pledge into a coma.[36][37] In 2013, a former pledge at California State Bakersfield sued the fraternity after being left paralyzed due to hazing. The pledge was shot with a BB gun and hit with canes and horse whips while pledging.[38] Also in 2013, nine Kappas were charged with felony assault for severely beating pledges from Youngstown State University.[39] In 2014, 11 Kappas from the University of Georgia were arrested and charged with hazing for severely beating and humiliating pledges.[40] In March 2014, several Kappas from the University of Memphis were arrested and charged for hazing and beating pledges.[41] Also in March 2014, five Kappas from the University of Central Arkansas were arrested for beating pledges.[42] In 2015, a D.C. man sued the fraternity for hazing and humiliation. The 45 year old filed a $2 million lawsuit because he stated after paying his non-refundable $3,000 graduate intake membership fee, he was coerced to be beaten with a cane, rub lotion on a Kappa, and clean a Kappa’s house in only his underwear and barefeet to become a welcomed member of the fraternity.[43][44] Also in 2015, a Maryland man sued the fraternity for $4 million after being hospitalized for beatings and lingering injuries he sustained while pledging the fraternity before he graduated college.[45]

In 1921, the Fraternity was divided into districts as a result of proposed legislation by George F. David II, the third Grand Polemarch. David was first Grand Polemarch who had not been nurtured by the Alpha Chapter under the influence of the Founders, proposed dividing the Fraternity into supervisory districts. The idea originated with his father who was a Presiding Elder of the A.M.E. Church. Grand Polemarch David II, implemented the division of the Fraternity into three districts. Past Grand Polemarch Irven Armstrong was assigned the first; Harrison R. Duke, the second; and Harold M. Tyler, the third district. The three districts grew into four “regions”. Fifth Grand Polemarch Earl B. Dickerson changed the designation of “Region” to “Province” and “Regional Director” to “Province Polemarch” at the 15th Grand Chapter Meeting in 1925. And during the original establishment of provinces, the following provinces were established: Eastern, Middle Eastern, Central, Great Lakes, Northwestern, Western, Southern, and Southeastern Provinces.[46] Currently there are 12 provinces with the following names: